Lillian Allen
Lillian Allen grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica where she attended Barracks (Spanish Town Primary) and later St Jago High School. She studied in New York City and in Canada where she resides…
“Rub A Dub Style Inna Regent Park”
– Read by Lillian Allen
“Rub A Dub Style Inna Regent Park”
Monday morning broke
news of a robbery
Pam mind went
couldn’t hold the load
dem took her to the station
a paddy wagon
screaming …
her Johnny got a gun
from an ex-policeman
Oh Lawd, Oh Lawd Oh Lawd eh ya
a wey dis ya society a do
to wi sons
Rub a dub style
inna Regent Park
mon a dub it inna dance
inna Regent park
oh lawd oh lawd
“forget yu troubles and dance”
forget yu bills them
an irie up yuself
forget yu dreams of gathering dusts
on the shelves
dj rapper hear im chant
pumps a musical track
for im platform
cut it wild
sey de system vile
dubbing it inna dance
frustration pile
a different style
inna regent park
could have been a gun
but’s a mike in his hand
could’ve been a gun spilling out the lines
but is a mike
is a mike
is a mike
Oh Lawd Oh Lawd Oh Lawd eh ya
riddim line vessel im ache
from im heart outside
culture carry im past
an steady im mind
man tek a draw an feeling time
words cut harsh try to find
explanations
de sufferings of de times
“forget yu troubles and dance”
forget yu bills dem
an irie up yu self
forget yu dreams gatherin
dust dust dust
is a long time wi sweating here
is a long time wi waiting here
to join society’s rites
is a long time wi beating down yu door
is a long time since wi mek the trip
cross the Atlantic
on the slave shipppppppp
is a long long time wi knocking
an every time yu slam the door
sey: no job
discrimination injustice
a feel the whip lick
an is the same boat
the same boat
the same boat
Oh Lawd Oh Lawd Oh Lawd eh ya
dj chant out cutting it wild
sey one hav fi dub it inna different style
when doors close down on society’s rites
windows will prey open
in the middle of the night
dashed hopes run wild
in the middle of the night
Oh Lawd Oh Lawd Oh Lawd eh ya